59 Unusual and Unique Things to Do in Melbourne

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I’ve been living in Melbourne for over two years now and have ticked off all of the main sights. So, I decided to do some digging and get together a list of some of the most unique things to do in Melbourne.

It took hours in the end – turns out there’s a lot going on in this city! My to-do in Melbourne list has definitely grown tenfold in the process.

So, here it is – a pretty epic (if I don’t say so myself!) list of unique things to do in Melbourne. No matter what your preference – history buff, nature enthusiast, foodie, adrenaline seeker or fitness freak – there’ll be something here to suit you!

Spending awhile in the city? Here are some options on where to stay in Melbourne, featuring the pros and cons of staying in the more popular suburbs.

4. Visit the Heidi Modern Art Museum

This museum in the city’s east houses modern and contemporary art, as well as having 16 acres of gardens and sculpture park to explore.

5. Squish grapes and drink wine at Noisy Ritual

Noisy Ritual is at this point, the city’s only urban winery, making it a very unique thing to see in Melbourne. It makes its own vintage, allows patrons to feast and drink onsite and offers winemaking classes.

The workshops are members only, but you can take a tour for $10, which includes a drink on arrival.

6. Or create your own gin

Don’t consider yourself a vino, with gin being more your scene? Head to Bass and Flinders Distillery to attend their gin making masterclass.

You’ll learn about the history of gin, create your own recipe and take home a 500ml bottle to share with your friends (or drink alone. No judgement here!).

7. Take a butchery class

Are you interested in the ethical side of meat consumption and want to know more about how the product ends up on the table?

10. Dine out at Attica

Okay, Melbourne is admittedly a food lover’s paradise. I’m yet to have a bad meal in the city and have been lucky enough to sit down for what is currently considered the best meal in the country, at Attica.

Located in the unassuming suburb of Rippon Lea, a table usually has to be booked at least three months in advance and it’ll set you back $295.

However, I can say from personal experience that it’s worth every cent. I’ve eaten at a few fancy digs in my life and this one blew my mind, to the point where I considered it a definite highlight of 2018.

11. Visit The Ascot Lot

The Ascot Lot is located in Ascot Vale and open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It’s quite a unique thing to do in Melbourne and not a very well-known one, either.

There are food trucks selling a bunch of different cuisines, regular trivia nights and drag bingo, to be enjoyed.

12. Grab some custom fit jeans from Dejour Jeans

Dejour are located in Brunswick and sell magical jeans for $55 which are made in Melbourne and will probably make your butt look banging.

Tip: Go on a weekday, or get there early, because they only allow a few people inside the store at a time and the line can get mighty long.

13. Take your pooch to the DogHouse in Collingwood

Australians love their mutts and Melbourne is basically a dog lover’s paradise. Which is really great when you consider yourself to be a dog crazy lady but lack the comfort of your own pooch. Sigh.

If you do own a doggo, you can take it on to the DogHouse, where you can sip on a caffeinated beverage whilst your pupper scoffs down its very own dogachino.

14. Visit the Cat Café

Consider yourself more of a cat person? Then head on down to Melbourne’s Cat Café where rescue cats which live on the premises are waiting to be petted, cuddled and have every other demand they have met, because as you know humans were put on this earth to serve cats, or that’s what they’d have you believe.

15. Experience the Titanic sinking for um, yourself

I bet you never expected a re-enactment of the Titanic sinking to appear on a list of unique things to do in Melbourne.

Travel to the port suburb of Williamstown, where you can board the Titanic and munch your way through a three course meal, whilst enjoying a theatrical performance of the sinking of the Titanic.

After the boat’s sunk, a night of dancing kicks off, featuring hits from the roaring 1920’s, to now.

16. Go on a ghost tour

There are plenty of opportunities to get a little bit spooky in Melbourne.

Lantern Ghost Tours offer a bunch of tours, from Pentridge Prison, to Williamstown and a walk through “Old Melbourne” after dark.

There are also a few tours on at the Old Melbourne Gaol after hours… I was properly frightened during the ghost tour there!

17. Explore Open House Melbourne

Open House Melbourne is certainly an event worth keeping an eye out for, where buildings around the city open their doors to the public, for one weekend of the year.

18. Clip ‘N Climb your way up a wall

Clip ‘N Climb have a range of activities for all ages. Big kids might want to try the Leap of Faith, or climb The Dark Tower, which has glow in the dark holds.

19. Try Rap Jumping

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Rap Jumping, where you abseil and rappell off a tall building in the city, which doesn’t sound terrifying at all. definitely one of the more unique things to do in Melbourne.

20. Go on a dumplings tour…

I can attest that Melbourne has some damn good dumplings, because I’ve been slow-eating my way around various dumpling venues in the city for some time now (all about that sustainable food slow movement, yo).

However, if you want to eat many delicious dumplings in a shorter period of time than say, two years, book yourself onto a dumpling discovery walk.

26. Get your groove on, Beyonce style

Always wanted to move like Beyonce? Well, The Cultmunity offer courses where you can learn a particular dance routine from a music video over an eight week period… or just rock up for one of their Bey dance parties.

27. Visit the pink lake

This is one of the more unique things to do in Melbourne, if the weather is right for it.

If it’s been a hot summer with little rain, the salt lake at Westgate Park will turn a startling shade of pink.

It’s something worth seeing but be mindful of local vegetation and prepared for there to be a heckload of other people milling around, particularly if it’s the weekend.

28. Have a soak at a Japanese Onsen

Here’s one of the more relaxing things to do in Melbourne.

Onsen Ma offers Japanese style public & private baths, along with massages.

Perfect for a good long soak in the wintertime, or if you just happen to be feeling particularly tense.

29. Or enjoy the beauty of the Peninsula Hot Springs

If you don’t mind travelling a little further afield to Mornington, head to the Peninsula Hot Springs, where you can soak outdoors in the very photogenic public baths.

31. Try some Rooftop Honey

Rooftop Honey is a fabulous local initiative, with beekeepers aiming to bring bees back to the city, by encouraging cafés, restaurants, hotels and individuals to keep hives in available spaces – from rooftops, to gardens.

You can visit specific sites for taste testing, order honey to help with hayfever symptoms and when the season begins again, adopt an off-site hive.

32. Kayak along the Yarra River

Here’s one cool way of seeing the city.

You can take a tour along the Yarra River, right at sunset by kayak. As the sky darkens, you’ll see the city come to life.

35. Grab some cheese and vino at Milk the Cow

Milk the Cow is a fromagerie with two venues – in Carlton and in St Kilda.

Head on in, order some cheese and a flight of wine and enjoy.

36. Visit the Planetarium

It can be hard to impossible to properly see the night sky in big cities like Melbourne, but star enthusiasts can head to The Planetarium for an astronomical experience, followed by a live presentation of the current night sky.

37. And check out the Scienceworks Museum

The Planetarium is located in the Scienceworks Museum, which celebrates everything, well, science-y.

I’ve been meaning to get there to se the museum of the Moon, which houses a seven metre diameter spherical moon-like sculpture sitting in it.

Almost like standing in front of the real thing!

38. Attend the Royal Melbourne Show

For ten days in late September to early October, the Royal Melbourne Show is on in full swing at the Flemington Showgrounds.

Running since 1848, this agriculture show has rides, animal contests, showbags and stalls from local companies and producers.

43. Go on the Aboriginal Heritage Walk

The walk is run by an Indigenous guide, who will explain some cultural aspects of the Aboriginal People and their connection to the land, whilst demonstrating which native plants were used for cooking and medicinal purposes.

You’ll also get to experience a smoking ceremony and drink some delicious lemon myrtle tea.

44. Experience bush tucker in a fine dining setting at Charcoal Lane

Charcoal Lane is social enterprise restaurant, which aims to provide opportunities for Indigenous Australians who are after a fresh start in life. The main aim is to ensure that those who work in this setting gain independence and reach their full potential.

Their menu is seasonally focused, using the best of native Australian food and is reputedly delicious.

45. Check out the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre

The Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre is located at Melbourne Museum and is a good place to head to if you want to learn more about Indigenous Culture, particularly that which is endemic to this region of Australia.

46. Visit the Islamic Museum of Australia

Australia is home to a growing population of Muslims, with many notable Aussies being of the Islamic faith.

This museum showcases the contributions Islam has made to civilisation, providing educational and cross-cultural experiences.

47. Have a picnic at the McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery

The McClelland Gallery is located east of the city and requires a gold donation for entry.

You can stroll around and admire the art, or have a picnic.

49. Spend the Night at Werribee Zoo

Werribee Zoo offers up the opportunity to sleep onsite within their eco-tents. The experience also gives you two day entry to the park and is accompanied by several separate tours and animal experiences.

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LC can often be found nursing a cup of green tea, with her head in a book. She is a writer, video editor and professional cheese eater. Her life's aspiration is to one day live on a farm in Tasmania with 11 dogs, a Shetland pony and several pygmy goats.

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Hello, my name is LC. I’m passionate about the environment, green tea, brunch (the most beloved meal of any urban Australian), travel, books and photography. This is where I write about all things sustainable, backyard travel in Oz and odd things to do and eat around the world. Oh and I’m crazy about birds.